Why doesn’t the National Trust walk the talk?
Last weekend and this, I’ve been reminded what a frustrating experience visiting a National Trust tea room can be.
Dedicated to upholding heritage, and beating the drum for Fairtrade tea and coffee, you’d expect some well-above average beverages. The reality is, however, so disappointing.
For a start, they insist on using tea bags, a sure way to kill any of the subtle flavour. I use leaf tea at home – why can’t the National Trust do the same?
Today, we had three teabags stuffed into a small pot with barely enough capacity for two average-sized tea cups, resulting in a kind of deep brown tannin-containing gloop. Disgusting!
And this week and last, neither tea room supplied a jug of hot water to replenish the tea pot – or in this week’s case, thin the infusion down to make it something drinkable.
I wonder if the tradition the National Trust is upholding is of 1950s British Rail buffet?